Song of Creation

by Francis of Assisi

In 1225 the infirm St. Francis, living in a hut in a church garden, wrote this poem in which he looks on the face of creation and blesses it in its totality. Our text is a translation of the poem by Matthew Arnold. We have illuminated each line with paintings -- "Praised be my Lord for our brother the Wind" is accompanied by a Corot painting of trees bent before a gale, and also an illustration by Frank Pape in which a dove is borne joyously upward. In this manner two faces of wind are shown, and the words made more vividly manifest.

Genres: Poetry, Religion, Nonfiction, Italian Literature, Christianity, Philosophy, Medieval

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1224

About the author

Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy as a Roman Catholic friar founded the Franciscan order in 1209 and inspired followers with his devotion, simple living, and love of nature; the pope canonized him in 1228.

A mother at Assisi bore him circa 1182, and he died in 1226.

People more commonly know the order of friars minor.

"To most people ... there is a fascinating inconsistency in the position of Saint Francis. He expressed in loftier and bolder language than any earthly thinker the conception that laughter is as divine as tears. He called his monks the mountebanks of God. He never forgot to take pleasure in a bird as it flashed past him, or a drop of water as it fell from his finger: he was, perhaps, the happiest of the sons of men. Yet this man undoubtedly founded his whole polity on the negation of what we think the most imperious necessities; in his three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, he denied to himself and those he loved most, property, love, and liberty. Why was it that the most large-hearted and poetic spirits in that age found their most congenial atmosphere in these awful renunciations? Why did he who loved where all men were blind, seek to blind himself where all men loved? Why was he a monk and not a troubadour? These questions are far too large to be answered fully here, but in any life of Francis they ought at least to have been asked; we have a suspicion that if they were answered we should suddenly find that much of the enigma of this sullen time of ours was answered also." --G.K. Chesterton

Reviews

[Caspar "moved to storygraph" Bryant]

Very sweet brief calligraphic reinvigoration of Francis of Assisi - the Canticle of the Sun. I find a man that preaches to birds personally relatable & wish to deepen our relationship xx

[Michael Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francis' poem/hymn and three stories from "The Little Flowers" are placed with Frank Missant's glorious calligraphy. A treat for the eyes and heart.

[Toni Trees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this work. I love poetry, the natural world, and God, and this beautiful canticle of praise has all three.

[Hadrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

7,5/10

[Heidi's Dad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful calligraphy adds to the enjoyment of reading the Canticle, The Sermon to the Birds, and Wolf of Gubbio. The author's story of how he learned the art of calligraphy is also worth the read.

[Hans-christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wichtige und interessante Texte, einschließlich des Nachworts. Wenn nur die Übersetzungen nicht so bleiern wären. Halt sehr dem Mittelalterbild des 19. Jahrhunderts verhaftet.

[Joaco Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

esencial para una ecología mística

[Larry Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of the all time classics of literature that every educated person should read.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful read! Evocative of pagan themes, a brings home to me as a Christian the importance of enjoying the beautiful world around us.